Research Papers

Perception, Reality and 21st Century StrategyMarch 2010

Dr Alan Stephens discusses perception and reality as they relate to air power and military strategy. He presented his paper at the RAAF Air Power Conference, The Art of Air Power, held in Canberra, on 29 March 2010

Controlling CyberspaceFebruary 2010

Controlling cyberspace is critical for effective ADF operations. The ADF must be able to operate in and control cyberspace, convey operational advantages to its force elements and prevent surprising events within cyberspace that threaten its forces or that are contrary to national interests.

Air Power and the Defence of AustraliaDecember 2009

Australia is, like every other country, girt by air, a more pervasive and flexible medium for pursuing military influence than either sea or land. Any shaping and deterring the ADF pursues during the Asia-Pacific century will be at least as reliant on the air component of its maritime forces as on its navy component, probably more so. Air Power and the Defence of Australia, addresses these aspects, with special reference to the recent Defence White Paper, 'Defending Australia in the Asia Pacific Century : Force 2030'

Future Naval Aviation Combat SystemNovember 2009

Future Naval Aviation Combat System, examines Defence Project Air 9000 Phase 8, replacement of the S70B Seahawk in current service and the cancelled Seasprite project

US Defence ExportsOctober 2009

The implications for Australia on US Defence Export Policy

Hizb'allah and Air Force CultureAugust 2009

Alan Stephens presents a point of view on how the RAAF's culture is shaped.

Implementing the Defence White Paper 2009June 2009

Implementing the Defence White Paper 2009 examines the programs that followed the many papers and reviews and the resulting failures which adversely impacted the war-fighting capability of the Australian Defence Force (ADF).

Australia's Strategic StingJune 2009

The Defence White Paper 2009 places significant emphasis on maritime capabilities and particularly on development of a large submarine force. Australia's Strategic Sting, a paper published by the Australian Submarine Institute and reproduced here with their approval, examines the case for submarines in the RAN. Written by Peter Briggs.

The Delusion of Counter Insurgency (COIN)June 2009

An article by Richard Aboulafia, Vice President Analysis, Teal Group Corporation, on a depressingly familiar theme in history that COIN was the future, and then being surprised by the emergence of a far more serious power.

New Air Combat Capability April 2009

Air combat capability is the ability to engage in air operations against external threats that use the air or sea to enter Australia or threaten Australia’s interests and combines fighter and strike aircraft, together with supporting air components, command and control elements, logistics and technical support essential to provide the air power required.

Control and Protect

The environment in which Australia now lives is dramatically different from the 20th century. Globalisation, advances in technology provided by world-wide communications and high speed computers, international air travel, climate change, economic interdependence and more recently, the financial downturn, has changed everything. Australia must consider these changes in determining strong and effective Defence policies to reflect the attitudes that exist in the 21st century.

Comments are invited on the Control and Protect paper. Please forward to the Chairman on the contact tab.